— 97 — 
There is, however, a prospect of fresh sources of supply being opened 
up, and a first consignment from that quarter has reached us some 
little time ago. 
Coumarin. It seems as if the prices had now reached the lowest 
level, and that there is no inclination to cut the value still further. 
Those manufacturers who had looked for mountains of gold from this 
article, have probably committed a great error in estimating the turn- 
over. Being at their wits' end, they now endeavour with American 
support to bring stability in the quotations. 
Since the completion of our new factories we manufacture this 
article of the well-lmown exquisite quality on the largest scale. 
Eugenol. The extensive manufacture of this preparation has 
been specially taken into consideration in our new premises. The price 
depends upon the quotations of cloves from time to time in force, 
and for this reason special arrangements will be made for contracts 
for large quantities. 
Geraniol. With our vast installations we are in a position 
to supply a perfectly pure article in any quantity. The consumption 
would probably acquire larger dimensions if by chance the Indian 
geranium oil (palmarosa oil) were not now so cheap; this oil, as is 
well known, consists chiefly of geraniol, of which it contains 76 to 
93 per cent. 
Mignonette (Reseda) "geraniol. The demand for this interesting 
product has been so brisk, that our stock will hardly last until the 
new mignonette-harvest, which is gathered in August. We would earnestly 
request that any requirements may be specified without delay, so that 
the necessary quantities may be reserved. 
Heliotropin. The situation has so far grown worse, that a 
manufacturer, whose chief merit is the ruination of this article, is unable 
to dispose of his stock, and now hawks it about at any price. The 
consumption of heliotropin has also been greatly overrated, and a senseless 
overproduction has taken place which now has an all the more depressing 
effect, as the sale of such perfumes cannot be forced, even at the 
cheapest prices. 
At one time heliotropin was often considered poisonous. But, as 
will be seen from the communications in the Appendix to the present 
Report, piperonal is in man physiologically inactive. Its harmless 
character is proved by a case in which a chemist, for the purpose of 
suicide, took a dose of 50 cc of a concentrated alcoholic solution of 
piperonal (i. e. about 10 g piperonal). His condition was in no way 
affected even by this enormous dose. 
7 
